Graduate Students at the University of Kentucky have the opportunity to earn a Graduate Certificate in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino/a Studies. This Certificate is directed primarily at graduate students whose intended academic and/or professional careers in research, teaching, and public or private sectors incorporate a focus on the geographical and cultural region of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the populations of Latin American and Caribbean descent living in the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world. It provides graduate students with the skills and knowledge to connect Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino topics to their research agendas. It is pursued concurrently with, the regular M.A and Ph.D. degree programs of participating departments. To be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino/a Studies, the student must successfully complete four courses amounting to 12 graduate credit hours with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. It is required to take four courses including:

a) LAS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino/a Studies: This is a required course for the Certificate. A topical seminar coordinated by an LACLAS affiliated faculty member that examines an issue of current scholarly interest from multiple disciplinary and theoretical perspectives. The Interdisciplinary Seminar features guest appearances in the classroom by LACLS affiliated faculty and is conjoined with the Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino/a Studies Interdisciplinary Forum featuring public lectures by LACLS affiliated faculty and invited speakers.

b) Three elective three-credit-hour courses,two of which must be taken in two departments different from the student’s home department. Courses fulfilling the requirement must be taught by affiliate faculty or visiting professors that are experts on Latin America, the Caribbean, and Latino populations. Courses may include those specifically designated by the LACLS program, topical seminars with a principal focus on a Latin American, Caribbean, or Latino topic, or other courses with content focusing on the region as defined above. A list of current courses is appended to this document

To apply:

a) A completed Certificate Application Form. Please click here for further instructions on applying to the LACLS Graduate Certificate.

b) Language Proficiency:Proficiency in a language spoken in Latin America is not required to complete the certificate. However, students who demonstrate adequate proficiency to read, converse, and conduct research in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Haitian Creole, or a Native Language of Latin America will have priority to be accepted into the program. Students may prove their proficiency by taking an Oral Interview with a Professor at the University of Kentucky who is a specialist or native in that language.

The following students do not need to show proof of their proficiency:

Graduate students in the Department of Hispanic Studies

Native speakers of Spanish, Portuguese, languages spoken in the Caribbean, or a Native language of Latin America.